PA Life Club’s FAM Trip to the historic Strand Palace last week was a much-awaited opportunity to visit this iconic hotel in the heart of London. We were eager to see how the hotel had been transformed over the recent years following the completion of the extensive renovation in 2020…
We met at the hotel’s lobby that overlooks the hotel’s contemporary Haxells restaurant and headed to the 1909, the private dining room named after the year it opened as a hotel. The team lead by Nicole Williams, Cluster Sales Director, and Sucheta Mukherjee, Cluster Sales Manager, greeted us with a warm welcome and an informative talk about the hotel’s fascinating history and how it has been transformed to the outstanding 788 room, four star hotel it is today by its independent owners. We also learned about the event options and took a peek at the stunning Afternoon Tea room that’s separated by double doors from the 1909. The two spaces work well together for larger groups.
A sustainability programme with simple ideas making a big difference
We also heard about their impressive sustainability programme from Alexandra, who leads the sustainability team at the Strand Palace. The clever ‘say no to housekeeping’ initiative saves a lot of energy, water and cleaning chemicals as you can imagine, and also gives back to the guests who get a ยฃ7 voucher to spend at the hotel for each night they hang the green sign outside their bedroom door. There are no plastic bottles in the hotel either, instead each guest has a refillable bottle waiting for them in the room which they can fill at any of the numerous refilling stations around the hotel.
What are the bedrooms like at Strand Palace?
The Strand Palace is one of the very few, if not the only quality hotel in central London offering single rooms. It’s quite astonishing to learn that as so many guests travel on their own, especially on business. The single rooms were compact yet spacious enough for a short stay and come with the same stylish standard contemporary bathrooms than the other room categories.
We also saw a standard double room and an executive room, both well designed with nice furnishings and ample space.
Our tour of the property also took in the hotel gym which has all the weights and equipment you’d expect of a good hotel gym. We also felt compelled to peek into the Joe Allen restaurant that’s part of the hotel building although run independently. It’s been a London institution for decades and it’s traditional decor and New York inspired menu still pulls in the crowds.
The hotel restaurant, Haxells, is a great place for pre-theatre dinners, and lazy lunches, or for any time of the day you feel like eating. The kitchen sources its top-quality ingredients with care, provenance, sustainability at the forefront. You will find the inviting menu offering plenty of modern British dishes, served in a relaxed and tranquil atmosphere.
The Afternoon Tea at the Strand Palace is an experience worth booking. The current decorative Theatre inspired menu goes well with the surrounding theatre district of course, and their Festive themed afternoon tea promises to be equally inviting. It’s always served in their dedicated Afternoon Tea room with plush decor to make your afternoon feel truly special.
We finished our FAM Trip at the Gin Palace
Our lovely afternoon ended in style at the hotel’s original bar, the Gin Palace. There is so much fascinating history in this property that was converted into a hotel in 1909. Prior to that it served as an indoor market and even housed exotic animals from elephants to monkeys. Some of the delicious cocktails we sampled are inspired by the stories of the past animal residents and other incredible facts, or even hearsays.
The hotel has also accommodated American servicemen during the two World Wars and organised dances in the evenings to take everyone minds off the war. It’s also the first hotel in London to build en-suite bathrooms in 1958. Read more about the fascinating history here.
More about Strand Palace Hotel
The Strand Palace Hotel, a fixture in the heart of London since 1909, stands as a testament to the city’s rich history and the evolution of hospitality. Nestled on the prestigious Strand, this hotel has been a silent witness to the ebb and flow of London’s narrative, from the ascension of monarchs to the shifts in government and the resilience shown through two world wars. With 788 rooms, it boasts one of the largest inventories in the city, reflecting its commitment to accommodating a diverse array of guests’ needs with 10 different room categories.
The Gin Palace invites guests to indulge in a world of refined spirits, with a new cocktail menu that narrates the hotel’s storied past through each meticulously crafted drink. For those seeking wellness, the hotel provides a gym facility, ensuring that guests’ fitness routines remain uninterrupted. The recent 2020 renovation has infused contemporary comfort into the hotel’s historic charm, with plans to further enhance the meeting spaces.
Sustainability is at the forefront of the Strand Palace Hotel’s ethos, proudly holding the Green Key accreditation, a symbol of its dedication to environmental responsibility. This commitment is woven into the fabric of the hotel’s operations, ensuring that the legacy of the Strand Palace Hotel is not only marked by its storied past but also by its forward-thinking stewardship of the environment.
PA Life Club members can enjoy fantastic FAM Trips, partner offers, discounted online courses, a peer-to-peer mentoring programme and more. Learn more and join the Club for free.
